Does gluten cause cancer? Do those with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease have an increased risk for developing this deadly disease? We will get to that shortly. First let’s dive into some statistics and facts around this deadly disease. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 1.5 million new cases diagnosed per year. About 40% of American adults are expected to develop cancer at some point in their life. And the World Health Organization predicts cases worldwide to rise by 70% over the next 30 years. All that being said, it is estimated that 1/2 of all cancers are caused by lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise.